FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Shipping

  • Please note all orders with tuning or custom grinds will incur up to a two week delay before shipping. This is in part due to the events we attend regularly. We are a boutique shop focused on service and final product experience, and this takes time. 

    - We ship worldwide. With a few exceptions

    - Free shipping on orders over $75 in the United States (Including Puerto Rico, Alaska and Hawaii).

    - We offer free shipping on orders of $300 or more to Canada.

    - International orders, the buyer is responsible for all import fees, duties, taxes, or otherwise that your country may impose on the package. For UK or EU orders, please contact us at hello@penrealm.com to discuss VAT fees for your order.

    - We cannot be held responsible for packages lost in the mail on international orders. Please verify every detail of your shipping choice and delivery address and purchase at own risk.

What is your return / refund policy

- If within 30 days of receipt of a pen and you have not inked it. You may return the pen and receive a refund minus a 15% restocking fee.

- If you would like to cancel a pre-order, you may do so any time before the product ships. You will receive a refund minus a 7% processing fee.

- Orders for custom nibs alone or attached to pens are not refundable. However the work is guaranteed. If there is an issue with the way the nib writes, send it back and we will resolve it.

Technical Questions

  • What is tuning and smoothing - A fountain pen is a lot like a guitar, piano or car engine, if not tuned it will not write at it's best. This applies to 99% of fountain pens sold. Poor factory tuning is also the largest reason for second hand sales of fountain pens by a wide margin. In tuning and smoothing, we align the nib tines, align the feed, adjust the flow and smooth any burrs that were left from cutting the nib slit. 
  • What angle is an Architect ground at? - Unless otherwise noted or requested in the notes on your order, an Architect nib will be ground at approximately 45 degrees (this includes Reverse Architect.
  • What is a tomahawk? - Tomahawk is slits in the side of a steel nib to make the nib softer and more gold like in feel. It does not make the nib flexible, and should not be added to any nib that you desire to also write on the reverse side.
  • Can you make tomahawk slits in gold or titanium - Abrupt termination leads to cracking, so tomahawk slits are not recommended for soft metals like gold and titanium.
  • What nib is best for a Fude grind - An extra fine steel nib is the best platform for a Fude.
  • Can you make a Fude on gold nibs - A Fude can be made on a gold nib. However, this exposes the gold as a writing surface and will be prone to more rapid wear.  Therefore, while possible, it is not typically recommended.
  • The pen I want has a lot of color variations how can I get one that I like - Most variable color pens have the exact one listed on our website. To be certain you are getting the color you like, email hello@penrealm.com and request a photo of the pen you'd like.

Order FAQ

  • My package looks open and or there looks like water drops are in my pen. If you order tuning or a custom grind, we do have to open the package to work on the pen. Your pen will be ready to ink upon arrival. 

A Quick, No-Brainer Guide to Choosing Your Nib Size

In an overly complicated fountain pen world, here’s the simple version:

  • Extra Fine (EF) – If you write small, go with EF. Clean, precise, and paper-friendly.

  • Fine (F) – The most popular choice for the “normal” writer. Great for everyday notes and work.

  • Medium (M) – If you lean toward a bigger font or like a little more ink on the page, M is perfect.

  • Broad (B) – B is for statements!! Sign a check in B. Write a bold header in B. Show off shading and color in B.

  • Stub – Stub nibs have an italic writing style, creating natural line variation. Perfect for special cards, invitations, or adding flair to your handwriting.